Forbidden

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The rest of the day Kieran and I spent roaming around town, walking in to every building and doing everything this town had to offer. We ate lunch at the small neighborhood diner, saw a movie at the town theater, and we even went to a football game down at the high school.

Of course, the fact that Nathan was on the football team and was the star quarter back didn't help ease my stress much. I couldn't help thinking about what Kieran would do if he found out that I had kissed Nathan. He would be hurt beyond belief, especially since all he's wanted to do is give me a real kiss and he can't.

At the end of the football game we start making our way down the metal stairs of the stands and down to the parking lot. Everyone is cheering and having fun since we won the game.

I take Kieran's hand so I don't lose him in the crowd of people. As we get to the bottom of the stands, I see Hailey staring at me with a very cold glare on her face.

She looks down at my hand, holding Kieran's and glares. She's practically red with envy and I try not to take satisfaction in the fact that she's jealous. I'm sure she was very happy with herself after the black light dance, taking pride in the fact that she had made me look stupid. I had to admit that it was beyond satisfying to shove it in her face that I was perfectly happy, regardless that she had accomplished making me look like a freak in front of the entire school.

I walk past her with my head held high and snuggle up closer to Kieran as we walk. He puts his arm around me as we walk to the car.

When we get back to my house it's dark and close to midnight. My parents had left a message on the phone saying they would be back in the morning.

"So what are you going to do tomorrow while I'm at school?" I ask as we make our way up the stairs to my room.

He shrugs. "I'm really not sure. I'll probably just wander around town."

When we get to my room, I head to the bathroom. "I'm just going to take a real quick shower if that's alright," I say.

He nods and takes a seat at my desk. "That's fine."

I close the door to my bathroom and take a warm shower. When I'm clean and dry, I change into a pair of sweatpants and a tank top and step out of the bathroom.

Kieran moved from my desk chair to my bed and was now lounging there, waiting for me.

I turn the lights off and then climb in bed and get closer to Kieran who lies on top of my blankets.

"I probably shouldn't stay here tonight," he says stroking my hair.

"Why not?"

"Well what if your parents were to check up on you and saw me? I may not know your parents but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be too thrilled with that."

"But where else will you go?" I ask looking up at him.

He gives a shrug. "I've lived in the forest for two hundred years, I think I can handle another night there."

I know that he's right, but I liked the idea of waking up to him every morning.

"I'll stay here beside you until you fall asleep but then I need to head out. Don't worry though, I'll be here when you get back from school." He says reassuringly.

"Promise?" I ask.

He kisses my forehead and wraps an arm around me. "I promise."

The next morning I wake up and sure enough, Kieran is gone. I sigh and get dressed and eat breakfast. My mom and dad walk in and take a seat at the table with me.

"How was Josh?" I ask as I take a spoonful of cereal.

"He's good. He says to tell you he loves you and misses you. He's been dieing to see the new house and visit you but he's just so busy with school lately. But he's only got this year left and then he'll be done with school."

"That's good," I say.

"So what did you do while we were gone?" My dad asks, looking down from the morning paper.

I shrug and answer, "Not much. Just walked around town and tried not to be bored." I hate the fact that it's so easy to lie to them now. A few weeks ago I could barely keep a secret from them and now here I was, lying left and right.

My mom suddenly gets antsy and asks, "So how was the dance? Did you have fun?"

Here goes another lie. "It was fine," I say.

"That's it? Just fine?" My mom asks, a little hurt that I wasn't giving a very detailed answer.

I shrug. "It was fun, I had fun."

She sighs and I get up from the table and head outside to catch the bus.

I open my locker and shove my book bag in it. I can feel Nathan watching me from his locker and I try my best to act as if I don't see him. My plan is to ignore him at all costs and focus all of my thoughts on Kieran. I wonder what he's doing right now alone.

School hasn't even started yet and I'm already anxious to get home.

English and Pre. Calculus go by surprisingly quick as well as History. When lunch rolls around, I avoid going to Hailey's table, knowing I am no longer welcome there. I don't know where else to sit though, so I just take the empty table at the back of the cafeteria. Nobody ever sits at the table but they do take some of the chairs from it to add to their own tables.

I take one of the three remaining chairs and eat my lunch alone. When the bell finally rings, I throw my trash away and head to the locker room.

I manage to successfully avoid Nathan during weight training. Mr. Seal has long ago stopped caring if we even do anything in his class, so I just take my book and read in the corner.

The bus ride home is long as usual and when it gets to my stop I run off and into the house. I hurry up to my room and open the door to find Kieran lounging on my bed, reading one of my old classical books.

He looks up as he sees me enter and gives me a small smile. I can tell something is wrong.

I set my book bag down and take a seat at my desk.

"How was school?" he asks casually.

"Long, boring, and uneventful as usual. Sadly I have a ton of homework to do though. The teachers are trying to make up for the four day weekend I guess. So what did you do all day?" I ask.

He sets the book down and walks over to me as he answers, "I just wandered around and thought about some stuff."

The tone of his voice worries me and I wonder what kind of things he was thinking about, but I don't dare ask. If he wants to, he'll tell me.

I open my Pre Calc. book and start working on the assignment. Kieran comes around behind me and rubs my shoulders as I work. I can't help but worry he's got something on his mind that he doesn't want me to know.